Resilient holder for abrasive and cleaning materials



May 11, 1948. 2,441,268

REsILIE'NTmoLDER FQR ABRAQSIIVE AND CLEANING MATERIALS 0. L. 'HABER I Filed.- Ot. i7, "1944 Cbar/es L 17292 VENTOR. er:

ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 11, 1948 UNITED STATES ram OFFlCE RESILIENT HOLDER FOR ABRAS IVE AND CLEANING MATERIALS Charles L. Haber, New York, N. Y.

Application October 17, 1944, Serial No. 559,017

Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in devices for effectively holding scouring or scraping materials, such as steel wool.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved holder for grasping and supporting material such as steel Wool in a hand protecting relation and in such manner that the steel wool may be most efficiently used for cleaning purposes.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved flexible type steel wool holder of such conformation that it may be grasped and held in the hand of a user with ease and under such circumstances that the steel wool will be most efficiently positioned for use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar ref-,

erence characters designate corresponding parts thruout theseveral views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved holder supporting a cluster of steel wool; the manner in which the holder is grasped being shown in dot and dash lines.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view thru the holder.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the open end of the holder.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a modified form of supporting teeth in the holder.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred and modified forms of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved holder. The material of which the holder is made is plastic, leather, rubber, textile, or any other material found suitable for use. In the main, the holder is in the form of an inverted pocket having the front and lower portions open for the reception of a cluster of steel wool or like abrasive material. The same includes a top wall Ill, and side walls H and I2. The walls II and I 2 have a general convergence, as shown in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawing, and at their lower edges they are provided with teeth or serrations l4 extending substantially the length of the holder from a. point designated at I5 in Figure 2 of the drawing below the finger engaging depressed pocket IT to the 'point l8 designated in Figure 2 adjacent the 'rear palm receiving curved wall 20. These teeth l4 may be formed integral with the material. The teeth are rather rigid and adapted for the purpose of biting into and gripping the.cluster of steel wool to. prevent the shifting of the wool within the holder as the operator reciprocates the cluster for cleaning purposes. In the event. the material used is plastic, the teeth It may be hardened in a manner conventionally understood by those skilled in the art, or the teeth may be of the form shown at M in Figure 6 molded into the hardened marginal portion 25 of the Wall. If the flexible material used is rubber, the teeth, of course, are either of hard rubber or molded into the material.

, The top wall l0 preferably bulges upward with botha longitudinal and transverse convexity. Along the top wall there may be positioned axial ribs or corrugations, shown at 50, and on the under side the top wall is provided with a preferably rigid rib, which may be conveniently referred to as the backbone of the holder, and designated at 3i. The topwall of the holder is provided with the finger tip engaging depression ll; the material of the top wall at this depression I! being flexible and the backbone or rib 3! extending continuous from the rear of I this depression thruout the length of the holder to the palm receiving curved back wall 20. The fore end of the holder may have an upwardly convexed lip 34 to prevent the steel wool from overlapping the top of the holder.

The side walls I! and I2 are provided with thumb and finger receiving depressions 40, shown best in Figure 3 of the drawing; these depressions having their greatest depth at a point intermediate the ends of the holder and gradually decreasing in depth towards the rear.

The manner of use of the holder will be apparent from the foregoing. The walls II and [2 are springy and pliable and the cluster of wool is positioned between them. The steel wool cluster fairly fills the interior pocket of the holder and the latter is then grasped in the hand of the user, in a manner such as shown in Figure 1; the index finger tip resting in the pocket IT with the rear of the holder lying in the palm of the hand. The thumb engages in one side wall depression and the tips of the other fingers may engage in the depression of the other side wall. Thus the holder is shaped to be grasped and squeezed with facility. The teeth of the holder will bite into the cluster of be grasped in either the right or the left hand of the user and full pressure may be used without liability of injury to the hand'of the user. This is brought about because of the extreme length of the pocket and the formation of the curved flexible back wall which fitsin the palm of the hand in a complete socketedsreiation in pressure contact with the carpus and metacarpus of the hand. Pressure is therefore relieved principally from the fingers and taken by the hand. This enabl'esi'thensertoapplyn'bodyepressure without tiringthe fingers: ortthe hand.

, 'In the specification -andiclaims"wherever the words steel wool":are used itlis the'intention that the holder may receive :anyrsuitable sabresive cleaning material likely to injure' thehands, in substitution of steel wool, Fforthe purpose defined.

Various changes vin the shape, size .and arrangement of parts may be made to" the "form of r invention herein shown 'and described, without departing from the :spirit of "the invention or the scope of the .fol-lowing' 'claims.

.IJcIaim:

1.. -A' flexible holder' for cleaning materiaLsuch as steel wool I comprising: a". flexible topwall? and depending flexible side walls, the said walls defining; a pocket for receivingsa clusteriof thessteel wool or the .like in biilging :relation from ithe pocket, said top wallhaving -a,y:porti0n normally bulging into the pocket 'n'efiningsan exterior finger-receiving depression on the top surface-*to facilitate igrasping and-"operation 6f the 'hr'J'lder.

'2. A: steel wool holder of the class described comprising a topxwall shapedtoreceive' thehantl wardly 1 from T the stop -thereof,"depending 'fiex ibl'e side "-walls having finger and'thumb engaging depressions externally therein, said top and side walls providing a downwardly and forwardly opening pocket, and a substantially rigid backbone connected as a part of the top wall and axially depending into the pocket in spaced relation from the side walls.

4. In a holder for abrasive material such as steel wool the combination of a top wall structure of" elongated "formation "having depending flexible side walls, said top wall structure including a downwardly curved back wall adapted to seat in the palm of the hand of the wearer, the walls defining a pocket for receiving the steel wool which opens downwardly and also forwardly, said side walls internally thereof having wool engaging projections, and the top wall forwardly thereof .havinganindex finger receiving depression defining a protuberance extending into the pocket for. normally bulging the steel wool into operating position.

5. A steel woolhol'der comprising a bodyiportion defining a top wall shaped-to -fit.in.the palm of the hand of the user and of -a lengthi to permit the index finger of the --user to.rest upon the forepart thereof, said body portion having flexible depending side walls spaced at the lower margins thereof and together with-the-top wall defining-a downwardly opening-pocket f0r receiving steel wool, said side walls being "of -a nature to receive at one side wall the (thumb of the hand of-the user and at'the other sidethe ends of the little, third and. middle fingerstof the users hand, said body portion'having 212118. pocket thereof opening at the-outer tore end so that steel wool will project at the front of :the holder, and a rear sloping wall at the rear en thereof. 1

- CHARLES L. HABER.

REFERENCES CITED 'The following references are'of record in the file of this patent:

.UNITED STATESPATENTS Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,441,268. May 11, 1948. CHARLES L. HABER is ereby certified at error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered pat t req u-ing correction as follows: Column 3, line 40, claim 1, before e Word port on insert flexible; and that e said Letters Patent'should be read with this correction therein that the sam may conform to e record of the case in the Patent Qflic lgned and sealed this 13th day of July, A. D. 1948 THOMAS F. PHY, Ascz'etant 00mm 

